Peaceful demos in Potsdam: solidarity with Palestinians and Israel!

Peaceful demos in Potsdam: solidarity with Palestinians and Israel!

On Saturday, June 28, 2025, numerous demonstrations took place in downtown Potsdam that had the current situation in the Gaza Strip on the subject. Over 300 participants of the network Potsdam for Palestine Perfested against the war in Gaza. They found hearing with slogans like "Free Palestine" and "stops the genocide in Gaza". Your demands are directed against the arms deliveries to Israel and the continued blockade of the Palestinian areas. A spokesman for the network emphasized that anti -Semitic statements are not tolerated in this protest.

At the same time there was a counter-protest, organized by the German-Israeli Society (DIG), with around 100 participants, which showed solidarity with Israel. Among those present were Andreas Büttner, representative against anti -Semitism in Brandenburg, and Volker Beck, President of Dig. Her message was clear: "Freedom is indivisible - solidarity with Israel". Büttner illustrated the importance of the common values ​​of civilization and the defense of this by Israel, while Beck expressed his concerns about the security of Jewish life in Germany

background of the protests

The protest actions in Potsdam are embedded in a larger context that is characterized by an intensive debate about anti -Semitism and legitimate criticism of Israel. In the past few months, anti -Semitic incidents, especially at German universities, have increased. There was recently a protest at the Humboldt University in Berlin, which was accompanied by clashes with the police and contained allegations of anti-Semitic statements. Nikolas Lelle from the Amadeu Antonio Foundation pointed out that the situation for Jewish students at universities is increasingly threatening, and urgently advised to an internal check of motivation behind the commitment to the conflict, especially with regard to other global crises.

The slogan "From the River to the Sea" is particularly controversial and was classified as unconstitutional in November 2023, but formulations such as "Free Palestine" are legally unproblematic. The judgment of a regional court in Mannheim supported the opinion that these slogans are covered by freedom of expression. Nevertheless, the legal situation remains uncertain, especially with regard to the interpretation and use of such slogans in different federal states.

The current conflict and its effects

The conflict in the Gaza strip escalated on October 7, 2023 on October 7, 2023, which led to about 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages. Since then, Israel's military has acted aggressively against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The painful events are often described as a humanitarian catastrophe. These extremes of violence and inhuman actions are a driving factor for mobilized protests worldwide.

Freedom of expression and the right to protest are central issues in this tense time. Legal scientist near Samour explains that terms such as genocide and apartheid are controversial, but they are still considered legal terms that must be taken seriously in relation to Israel and Palestine. But even the discussion is characterized by uncertainties; The International Court of Justice (IGH) noted that states are obliged to prevent genocide, while Israel is often under pressure in the international media. The challenges of anti -Semitism and the defense of Jewish life in Germany are varied and will continue to remain a central topic in the future.

It is to be hoped that the debates not only lead to split, but also find ways to communicate and tolerance. This was also emphasized by the Minister of Culture and Science Manja Schüle in a parallel family festival in Babelsberg, where she emphasized the importance of tolerance for peaceful coexistence.